Daylight Saving Time (DST) has been a long debated topic amongst the general population and lawmakers alike. The overwhelming sentiment from citizens of the United States is that this practice of changing your clocks twice a year is quite an inconvenience and entirely unnecessary.
One of President Donald Trump’s first proclamations after being re-elected to office was the motion to put an end to this practice in coming years. Previous years have also seen attempts to make Daylight Saving Time permanent but the bill did not pass beyond the senate. Efforts to bring an end to this practice are being renewed and a real change might finally occur if the legislation filed in Texas is approved.
Texas has had enough of Daylight Saving Time
This practice of turning the clocks forward by an hour in March and then changing it back later in the year is decades old and is meant to give the people an extra hour of daylight to enjoy during spring and summer and then the extra hour is gained back once fall begins.
Multiple members of the Texas House and Senate have filed legislation to bring a stop to this practice. For the most part, bills were filed with the ultimate goal of making Daylight Saving Time permanent throughout the year, eliminating the need to change the clocks bi-annually.
This effort was made during the legislative session in 2023, however, Senator Judith Zaffirini has proposed alternate measure. Instead of making Daylight Saving Time permanent, the state of Texas would adopt standard time year-long. This is also the sole option allowed under federal law.
Voters will be given the option to choose between making either standard time or DST permanent if Zaffirini’s legislations passes into law and Congress allows for states to observe a permanent Daylight Saving Time.
In a statement shared with The Texas Tribune, Zaffirini shared, “The twice-a-year clock change is disruptive and unnecessary.”
She added that, “studies have linked these shifts to increased traffic accidents, negative health effects, and decreased productivity.”
Other similar efforts
Rep. Will Metcalf set the precedent for Zaffirini’s bill when he filed a bill with the aim of adopting DST throughout the year. The bill received bipartisan support from members of Texas House but was unfortunately stalled when it reach the Senate.
Metcalf has submitted this bill once again, highlighting a preference for longer, brighter evenings.
“Texas doesn’t need to wait for Washington,” said Metcalf in a news release. “By passing HB 1393, we’ll demonstrate leadership and send a strong message that Texans are ready to move forward.”
The Sunshine Protection Act was also reintroduced by Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, and Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican. This Act would make DST the standard across the nation year-round and in 2022, the U.S. Senate approved a similar bill. The bill did not make it to a vote in the House, however.
Additionally, the Uniform Time Act will allow states to follow standard time throughout the year. If, however, any state chooses to continue the practice of Daylight Saving Time, it will have to begin and end on federally mandated dates.
What are American people saying?
The people of this country are divided on whether standard time or DST should be implemented. However, according to a survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, eliminating time changes was given more preference over leaving things as is.
The survey noted that “half of people support legislation that would eliminate seasonal time changes while a quarter, 26%, don’t support it and 24% said they don’t know.”
Additionally, sleep experts have shared that standard time is the healthier choice as it better aligns with the body’s circadian rhythms.
Conversely, David J. Earnest — a professor of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at the Texas A&M School of Medicine — shared that “the key factor is that whatever that time is that you’re on is regular from day to day, week to week, month to month and, preferably over the course of the year.”
He further added that the bodies of children and the elderly become confused as a result of these changes.